Jeter sidelined again; DL looming larger

TAMPA, Fla. – Derek Jeter’s hopes of playing on opening day are all but dashed.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in the dugout March 13, 2013.

“I don’t anticipate him starting the season on the 25-man active [roster],” general manager Brian Cashman said Sunday, after the Yankees’ captain reported additional soreness in his left ankle.

For days, Cashman had been prepping Jeter for a stint on the disabled list. But the 38-year-old still clearly pictured himself at shortstop April 1 at Yankee Stadium – until Sunday’s latest setback.

“I told him what I think. And he didn’t fight me on it. That’s reality,” Cashman said after a morning meeting with Jeter. “This season’s coming quicker than that leg’s going to be ready, in my opinion.”

The new target date for Jeter’s opener is April 6, though it’s really anyone’s guess as to when he’ll return to a lineup already ravaged by injuries to key stars.

“At the end of the day, he’s just not ready yet,” Cashman said before the Yankees’ 7-6 win against Tampa Bay. “We’re not dealing with any new injury or anything of that nature. It’s just general soreness.”

After batting four times as designated hitter in a minor league game Saturday, Jeter arrived at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday and described discomfort in the back of his surgically repaired ankle.

Jeter was scratched from the lineup in Clearwater on Tuesday because of stiffness in the front of his ankle, and he hasn’t played a game in the field since March 16. He received a cortisone injection Wednesday, but no further shots or tests are planned.

Along the way, Jeter has tired of explaining that doctors had prepared him for the traveling soreness that would accompany his rehab from a fractured ankle in October’s AL Championship Series opener. The bone is fully healed. The chal lenge was to play through the initial discomfort, something Jeter felt he could handle given his notable pain threshold.

Jeter was too sore to play in Sunday’s minor league exhibition game, and he wasn’t around to speak to reporters. But Saturday, the captain felt he was very much in play for the April 1 opener.

“I almost wiped out a couple of times [running] out of the box, but yeah, that’s something you build up to,” Jeter said after his four ground-ball outs in Saturday’s exhibition against Class AAA pitching.

“If anybody can do anything, it’s Derek Jeter,” Cashman said Sunday. “But some things just need more time.”

Jeter has started 15 of the Yankees’ last 16 opening days at shortstop. He missed the 2001 opener because of a quad strain that kept him sidelined a week, and Luis Sojo was installed at short.

“I hope he comes back soon. We need him,” said Eduardo Nunez, the Yankees’ shortstop until Jeter returns. And even then, Jeter could see significant time as a designated hitter against left-handed pitchers – making Nunez more of a presence.

“He provides a speed option that we didn’t really have last year,” manager Joe Girardi said after Nunez — batting .286 this spring — went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday’s win.

Girardi is more comfortable with Nunez’s previously suspect defense, especially his throwing. But the Grapefruit League doesn’t compare with the glare of April in the Bronx.

In the meantime, Jeter will rest a couple of days before returning to baseball activity.

He’ll likely remain at extended spring training until he’s able to get through consecutive games at shortstop without issue.

“I think our goal is now realistically April 6 at the earliest,” Cashman said. “His goal is still April 1.”

Jeter sidelined again; DL looming larger

TAMPA, Fla. – Derek Jeter’s hopes of playing on opening day are all but dashed.

“I don’t anticipate him starting the season on the 25-man active [roster],” general manager Brian Cashman said Sunday, after the Yankees’ captain reported additional soreness in his left ankle.

For days, Cashman had been prepping Jeter for a stint on the disabled list. But the 38-year-old still clearly pictured himself at shortstop April 1 at Yankee Stadium – until Sunday’s latest setback.

“I told him what I think. And he didn’t fight me on it. That’s reality,” Cashman said after a morning meeting with Jeter. “This season’s coming quicker than that leg’s going to be ready, in my opinion.”

The new target date for Jeter’s opener is April 6, though it’s really anyone’s guess as to when he’ll return to a lineup already ravaged by injuries to key stars.

“At the end of the day, he’s just not ready yet,” Cashman said before the Yankees’ 7-6 win against Tampa Bay. “We’re not dealing with any new injury or anything of that nature. It’s just general soreness.”

After batting four times as designated hitter in a minor league game Saturday, Jeter arrived at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday and described discomfort in the back of his surgically repaired ankle.

Jeter was scratched from the lineup in Clearwater on Tuesday because of stiffness in the front of his ankle, and he hasn’t played a game in the field since March 16. He received a cortisone injection Wednesday, but no further shots or tests are planned.

Along the way, Jeter has tired of explaining that doctors had prepared him for the traveling soreness that would accompany his rehab from a fractured ankle in October’s AL Championship Series opener. The bone is fully healed. The chal lenge was to play through the initial discomfort, something Jeter felt he could handle given his notable pain threshold.

Jeter was too sore to play in Sunday’s minor league exhibition game, and he wasn’t around to speak to reporters. But Saturday, the captain felt he was very much in play for the April 1 opener.

“I almost wiped out a couple of times [running] out of the box, but yeah, that’s something you build up to,” Jeter said after his four ground-ball outs in Saturday’s exhibition against Class AAA pitching.

“If anybody can do anything, it’s Derek Jeter,” Cashman said Sunday. “But some things just need more time.”

Jeter has started 15 of the Yankees’ last 16 opening days at shortstop. He missed the 2001 opener because of a quad strain that kept him sidelined a week, and Luis Sojo was installed at short.

“I hope he comes back soon. We need him,” said Eduardo Nunez, the Yankees’ shortstop until Jeter returns. And even then, Jeter could see significant time as a designated hitter against left-handed pitchers – making Nunez more of a presence.

“He provides a speed option that we didn’t really have last year,” manager Joe Girardi said after Nunez — batting .286 this spring — went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday’s win.

Girardi is more comfortable with Nunez’s previously suspect defense, especially his throwing. But the Grapefruit League doesn’t compare with the glare of April in the Bronx.

In the meantime, Jeter will rest a couple of days before returning to baseball activity.

He’ll likely remain at extended spring training until he’s able to get through consecutive games at shortstop without issue.

“I think our goal is now realistically April 6 at the earliest,” Cashman said. “His goal is still April 1.”